Orlando faces 12% cut; other cities pinch, too

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has told administrators to get ready for a double-digit spending cut, a directive that will almost certainly mean deep cuts in city services and layoffs from the city work force.

Administration officials met with union leaders Tuesday to warn that a 12 percent across-the-board cut is coming to all departments, from police and public works to parks and the mayor's own executive offices. The total amounts to about $29 million in the next budget year, which begins Oct. 1.

"We believe that with numbers of this magnitude, we will be impacting our employees," said Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sutton, adding that layoffs would be a "last resort." She asked union officials to suggest possible cuts.

City officials won't know how much revenue they'll collect from property taxes -- local government's primary funding source -- until assessments are released in June. But state analysts predict big drops because of stagnant growth and falling home and commercial values: 12.9 percent statewide, and 8.7 percent in Orange County.

"We're not going to have concrete numbers until June. But with the global economic crisis, we knew we had to take steps now," said Carson Chandler, Dyer's spokesman.

Orlando isn't alone. Other cities have imposed midyear budget cuts that will continue into next year.

Maitland is projecting a 10 percent decrease, or $1.8 million. Altamonte Springs expects to cut as much as $2.5 million. Eustis faces a 7 percent cut. Oviedo already cut about 4 percent and is considering new recreation fees. Sanford is looking at a four-day workweek.

Osceola County Commission Chairman John QuiM-qones is considering cutting salaries of employees paid more than $100,000. Deltona officials worry a tax increase will be needed if things don't improve. Winter Park is planning a 10 percent cut, roughly $4.5 million.

"We will not be able to avoid service decreases of some type," Winter Park City Manager Randy Knight said. "In many cases, that will include people. And that is assuming [state lawmakers] don't do some other tax-reform measure that hits us this year."

Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty has told county staffers to freeze salaries for next year, freeze hiring and brace for a 5 percent budget cut. No layoffs are planned, but outside agencies are being warned to expect at least 10 percent less in funding.

Last fall, the Orlando City Council raised the property-tax rate, cut services and dipped into emergency reserves to balance the current budget. Dyer has ruled out raising property taxes again.

Dyer has made public safety a primary focus since he was elected, bolstering the ranks of the police and fire departments. But with public safety the city's largest expense, cuts may be hard to avoid.

"The question is, how do you get to 12 percent without closing fire stations?" fire-union President Steve Clelland said. "I don't know if you can."

Police-union President Jeff Williams said it's the wrong time to reduce officer ranks.

"I don't think the city can afford to lay off police officers," he said. "We all know when the economy is bad, our job gets harder."